SEATTLE SYMPHONY BRINGS 2019–2020 SEASON TO A CLOSE WITH FINAL CONCERT BROADCASTS IN JULY
Music Director Thomas Dausgaard leads the Seattle Symphony in Sibelius' Kullervo on May 31, 2018 at Benaroya Hall.
JULY DIGITAL CONTENT TO FEATURE MAINSTAGE CONCERT, NEW EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, AND FAMILY CONCERT SPECIAL
Seattle, WA – Since Benaroya Hall closed its doors in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seattle Symphony has remained committed to sharing music every week with audiences at home in Seattle and around the world through free online broadcasts and livestreams. This week, the Symphony brings its 2019–2020 season to a close with the concert rebroadcast Selections from Sibelius Kullervo led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard; new installments of education program Meet the Instrument: Piano with Seattle Symphony Piano Jessica Choe and Meet the Instrument: Viola with Seattle Symphony Assistant Principal Viola Mara Gearman; and a special Family Concert: The Adventures of Peer Gynt with Dausgaard as conductor and narrator. These broadcasts mark the end of Dausgaard’s first season as Music Director with the Seattle Symphony.
The Seattle Symphony has built a range of regular broadcasts since the inaugural concert stream in March with viewership reaching over 635,000 for the Symphony’s expanded online offerings. In addition to concert rebroadcasts of past performances, the Symphony’s video lineup also includes weekly installments of education programs Meet the Instrument and Tiny Clips for Tiny Tots. Additionally, daily Morning Notes feature short performances from musicians of the orchestra.
The schedule for the final broadcasts and livestreams of the season is as follows:
Meet the Instrument: Piano
Wednesday, July 8, at 11 a.m. PDT
Selections from Sibelius Kullervo
Thursday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m. PDT | Saturday, July 11, at 8 p.m. PDT | Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m. PDT
Meet the Instrument: Viola
Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m. PDT
Family Concert: The Adventures of Peer Gynt
Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m. PDT
Morning Notes
Every weekday morning
Selections from Sibelius Kullervo features Music Director Thomas Dausgaard leading the orchestra in this work inspired by the character Kullervo from Finnish epic poem Kalevala. The concert, which was originally performed on May 31, 2018, was “remarkably colorful, full of vitality and also a deep melancholy” (The Seattle Times). Audiences can tune in for the rebroadcast on Thursday (July 9) at 7:30 p.m. PDT, Saturday (July 11) at 8 p.m PDT, and Sunday (July 12) at 2 p.m. PDT.
Viewers of all ages can also join in Family Concert: The Adventures of Peer Gynt on Saturday, July 11 at 11 a.m. PDT. The broadcast features selections from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite conducted by Dausgaard and pairs the orchestra’s performance with Dausgaard’s narration of the story of Peer Gynt and a guided Google Earth activity that allows children and their families to virtually visit the places that inspired the tale.
Meet the Instrument: Piano and Meet the Instrument: Viola are set to air on Wednesday, July 8 and Friday, July 10 at 11 a.m. PDT.
Though the orchestra has not been able to gather in person, the Seattle Symphony is honored to have brought strength, comfort and joy to audiences through sharing music online. The weekly schedule will be available at seattlesymphony.org/live. Viewers can join on the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels. The orchestra looks forward to returning to the Benaroya Hall stage; until then, the Seattle Symphony will continue to find new ways to bring music to the community as it reimagines the 2020–2021 season.
Inspired by the orchestra’s dedication to serving the community, more than 6,000 people have stepped forward with a donation since the closure of Benaroya Hall. These funds support the Seattle Symphony Future Fund, providing critical resources to ensure a bright future for symphonic music in our community. To learn more about how to support the Seattle Symphony or to make a donation, visit seattlesymphony.org/give. The Seattle Symphony looks forward to welcoming audiences back to Benaroya Hall again soon and wishes everyone health and comfort in the coming weeks.
THOMAS DAUSGAARD | MUSIC DIRECTOR
Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard is esteemed for his creativity and innovative programming, the excitement of his live performances and his extensive catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings. A renowned recording artist with over 70 discs to his name, Dausgaard’s releases with the Seattle Symphony have garnered critical acclaim resulting in international honors including a 2017 Gramophone Award nomination for Mahler’s Symphony No. 10 (Deryck Cooke version), Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year Award, and a 2019 Best Orchestral Performance Grammy nomination for Nielsen’s Symphonies Nos. 3 and 4. An avid champion of contemporary works and the music of his homeland, Dausgaard and the Seattle Symphony will release the much-anticipated cycle of symphonies by Carl Nielsen.
Performing internationally with many of the world’s leading orchestras, Dausgaard is also the Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and Honorary Conductor of the Orchestra della Toscana and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.
Dausgaard has been awarded the Cross of Chivalry by the Queen of Denmark and elected to the Royal Academy of Music in Sweden.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, the Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 500,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts.
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MEET THE INSTRUMENT: PIANO
Wednesday, July 8, at 11 a.m.
Jessica Choe, piano & host
Meet the Piano! Seattle Symphony Piano Jessica Choe will perform short pieces and lead an exploration of the piano.
The live broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
SELECTIONS FROM SIBELIUS KULLERVO
Thursday, July 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 11, at 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 12, at 2 p.m.
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor
Sibelius Kullervo, select movements
Thomas Dausgaard’s performances are generously underwritten by Mel and Leena Sturman.
Sibelius Kullervo was part of the 2017–2018 Delta Air Lines Masterworks season.
MEET THE INSTRUMENT: VIOLA
Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m.
Mara Gearman, viola & host
Meet the Viola! Seattle Symphony Assistant Principal Viola Mara Gearman will perform short pieces and lead an exploration of the viola.
The live broadcast will be available through the Seattle Symphony’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
FAMILY CONCERT: THE ADVENTURES OF PEER GYNT
Saturday, July 11, 11 a.m.
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor & narrator
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite Op. 1, No. 46, select movements
Come with us on a journey through Scandinavia with our friend Peer Gynt! Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite transports you to the lush vastness of Scandinavia with popular tunes like Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King. Thomas Dausgaard conducts and tells of the story of Peer Gynt. Virtually visit the places that inspired the music with a guided Google Earth activity.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs supported by The Klorfine Foundation.